Patents by Inventor Thomas Blank
Thomas Blank has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240279670Abstract: This technology relates in part to methods of identifying plant cultivars based on the terpene synthase genes that are identified and/or quantified (e.g., copy number, ploidy) in the cultivars. The methods provided herein permit plant cultivars with desired characteristics/phenotypes, e.g., a desired terpene production profile, to be selected for use in various applications, such as agriculture (e.g., selecting cultivars for breeding desired characteristics and/or lineages) and medicine (e.g., therapeutic activity).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2023Publication date: August 22, 2024Inventors: Christopher Stephen PAULI, Anthony TORRES, Reginald GAUDINO, Keith ALLEN, Thomas BLANK, Kymron B.J. DE CESARE
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Publication number: 20240188156Abstract: A method for operating a radio node, radio sensor node recording consumption or radio actuator node performing work in a fixed network, includes providing a first primary communication link between a radio node and a base station of the network, for access operation from or through the base station to the radio node and a second primary communication link between the radio node and a mobile data transceiver station, for access operation from or through the mobile data transceiver station to the radio node. The radio nodes are managed in a head end communicating with the base station or the mobile data transceiver station through a tertiary communication link. Access operation occurs from the mobile data transceiver station or head end, through the mobile data transceiver station, to a radio node using access data based on a token and digital twin combination of the operating data of the radio node.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2023Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Petra Joppich-Dohlus, Achim Schmidt, Thomas Blank
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Patent number: 11835367Abstract: Communication between a terminal, such as a consumption meter, installed at a fixed location and a mobile data collector, by way of Wireless M-Bus, via a short-range radio receiver. Data from the terminal is forwarded to the data collector via a bidirectional WPAN interface. The terminal sends a message periodically and unprompted for the communication set-up and subsequently opens a reception window after a period of time. In response, a command or a command sequence is conveyed from the mobile data collector to the receiver and to the terminal in one or more reception windows. The receiver determines the reception time at which the message arrives at the receiver, and the receiver stipulates the time at which the command or command sequence is transmitted onward to the terminal, so that the command or command sequence is received by the terminal within one reception window or multiple reception windows.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbHInventors: Stefan Schmitz, Achim Schmidt, Petra Joppich-Dohlus, Thomas Blank
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Publication number: 20230384327Abstract: The present invention concerns new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia diseases. In particular, the present invention pertains to new markers for diagnosing dementia diseases as well as to new targets for the treatment of dementia diseases.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventor: Thomas Blank
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Publication number: 20230357868Abstract: This technology relates in part to methods and compositions for identifying and/or selecting one or more terpene synthase genes and/or variants thereof in a plant, based on which a plant with a desired terpene profile can be obtained and/or used. A desired terpene profile of a plant (i.e., the types and, optionally, the relative amounts of terpenes in a plant) can include, for example, an energetic terpene profile, an anti-nociceptive terpene profile and an insecticidal terpene profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Christopher Stephen PAULI, Anthony TORRES, Reginald GAUDINO, Keith ALLEN, Thomas BLANK, Kymron DE CESARE
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Patent number: 11798471Abstract: Described is a display system comprising a light source, a scanning assembly, and a controller. The light source includes a first plurality of emitters forming a column that emits a first color. The light source also includes a second plurality of emitters forming a column that emits a different color. The scanning assembly includes a reflective surface rotated by the controller using a control signal having a nonlinear, pulsed waveform. The controller drives the first plurality of emitters and the second plurality of emitters in sequence, during respective portions of the nonlinear waveform, and in synchronization with rotation of the reflective surface such that light emitted by the first plurality of emitters and the second plurality of emitters is reflected onto a same pixel of an output image. The controller also adjusts emission durations of individual emitters to compensate for changes in the rotational speed of the reflective surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William Thomas Blank, Ilias Pappas
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Patent number: 11778151Abstract: A “Concurrent Projector-Camera” uses an image projection device in combination with one or more cameras to enable various techniques that provide visually flicker-free projection of images or video, while real-time image or video capture is occurring in that same space. The Concurrent Projector-Camera provides this projection in a manner that eliminates video feedback into the real-time image or video capture. More specifically, the Concurrent Projector-Camera dynamically synchronizes a combination of projector lighting (or light-control points) on-state temporal compression in combination with on-state temporal shifting during each image frame projection to open a “capture time slot” for image capture during which no image is being projected. This capture time slot represents a tradeoff between image capture time and decreased brightness of the projected image.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sasa Junuzovic, William Thomas Blank, Steven Bathiche, Anoop Gupta, Andrew D. Wilson
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Publication number: 20230304829Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary encoder (10) for a machine, in particular a hoist, crane or the like, and to a method for operating a rotary encoder, the rotary encoder having a rotary encoder shaft (12) which is connectable to a shaft of a machine for detecting a rotation of the shaft, the rotary encoder having a frame (11) which is mountable on a machine, the frame (11) having an encoder element (13) disposed thereon for detecting a rotation of the rotary encoder shaft and a signal output element (14) for outputting a rotation angle signal and/or a speed signal, the rotary encoder having a bearing device (20) by means of which the rotary encoder shaft is rotatably mounted on the frame, the rotary encoder having an insulating device (19) which electrically insulates the rotary encoder shaft and the bearing device from the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Thomas Blank, Simon Maiberger
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Patent number: 11743435Abstract: In an embodiment, a headset display device includes a central processor and multiple projector integrated circuits for eyes of a wearer of the headset display device. Each eye of the wear is associated with at least three projector integrated circuits. Each of the three projector integrated circuits is communicatively coupled to the central processor. Each projector integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit including a light emitter array having monochrome light emitters of a single color, and a second integrated circuit coupled to the first integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit includes a graphics processor configured to generate transformed image data. The graphics processor is configured to provide the transformed image data to the first integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit is configured to output the transformed image data using the light emitter array.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Larry Seiler, William Thomas Blank, Warren Andrew Hunt, Michael Yee
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Publication number: 20230243814Abstract: This technology relates in part to methods of classifying plant strains, such as Cannabis plant strains, in a manner that clusters them into clades based on shared terpene profiles. The methods provided herein permit plant strains with desired characteristics/phenotypes to be identified for use in various applications, such as agriculture (e.g., selecting strains for breeding desired characteristics) and medicine (e.g., therapeutic activity).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2021Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Thomas BLANK, Reggie GAUDINO
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Publication number: 20230161165Abstract: Electronic display devices include digital and analog control of pixel intensity. A digital pixel control circuit and an analog pixel control circuit are provided within each pixel. The digital pixel control circuit employs digital PWM techniques to control a number of subframes within each frame during which a driving current is supplied to a light emitting element within the pixel. The analog pixel control circuit controls the level of the driving current supplied to the light emitting element within the pixel during the frame. In one example, the digital pixel control circuit and the analog pixel control circuit may together control pixel intensity with the analog pixel control circuit providing additional in-pixel bits for increased color depth. Alternatively, the digital pixel control circuit may control pixel intensity and the analog pixel control circuit may control non-uniformity compensation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Ilias Pappas, William Thomas Blank, Ramakrishna Chilukuri, Michael Yee
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Publication number: 20230100751Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating conveyor means and to a control unit (10) for conveyor means, in particular hoisting gear, cranes, gantry cranes, container cranes or the like, the conveyor means comprising a drive unit (11) and a control unit for controlling the drive unit, a carriage of the conveyor means being moved along a rail (12) of the conveyor means by means of the drive unit, the control unit being controlled by means of a control device (13) of the control unit, a rotary encoder (16) of the control unit being connected to a shaft (18) of the drive unit or of a measuring wheel of the carriage and registering a rotation of the shaft, a rotation angle signal and/or a rotational speed signal being transmitted to the control device by means of an encoder device (17) of the rotary encoder in order to determine an assumed position of the carriage on the rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Thomas Blank, Manfred Martis
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Publication number: 20230045386Abstract: The interactive and shared surface technique described herein employs hardware that can project on any surface, capture color video of that surface, and get depth information of and above the surface while preventing visual feedback (also known as video feedback, video echo, or visual echo). The technique provides N-way sharing of a surface using video compositing. It also provides for automatic calibration of hardware components, including calibration of any projector, RGB camera, depth camera and any microphones employed by the technique. The technique provides object manipulation with physical, visual, audio, and hover gestures and interaction between digital objects displayed on the surface and physical objects placed on or above the surface. It can capture and scan the surface in a manner that captures or scans exactly what the user sees, which includes both local and remote objects, drawings, annotations, hands, and so forth.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sasa JUNUZOVIC, William Thomas BLANK, Bruce Arnold CLEARY, III, Anoop GUPTA, Andrew D. WILSON
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Patent number: 11567325Abstract: Electronic display devices include digital and analog control of pixel intensity. A digital pixel control circuit and an analog pixel control circuit are provided within each pixel. The digital pixel control circuit employs digital PWM techniques to control a number of subframes within each frame during which a driving current is supplied to a light emitting element within the pixel. The analog pixel control circuit controls the level of the driving current supplied to the light emitting element within the pixel during the frame. In one example, the digital pixel control circuit and the analog pixel control circuit may together control pixel intensity with the analog pixel control circuit providing additional in-pixel bits for increased color depth. Alternatively, the digital pixel control circuit may control pixel intensity and the analog pixel control circuit may control non-uniformity compensation.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ilias Pappas, William Thomas Blank, Ramakrishna Chilukuri, Michael Yee
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Publication number: 20230002779Abstract: This technology relates in part to methods of identifying plant cultivars based on the terpene synthase genes that are identified and/or quantified (e.g., copy number, ploidy) in the cultivars. The methods provided herein permit plant cultivars with desired characteristics/phenotypes, e.g., a desired terpene production profile, to be selected for use in various applications, such as agriculture (e.g., selecting cultivars for breeding desired characteristics and/or lineages) and medicine (e.g., therapeutic activity).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Christopher Stephen PAULI, Anthony TORRES, Reginald GAUDINO, Keith ALLEN, Thomas BLANK, Kymron DE CESARE
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Publication number: 20220383810Abstract: Described is a display system comprising a light source, a scanning assembly, and a controller. The light source includes a first plurality of emitters forming a column that emits a first color. The light source also includes a second plurality of emitters forming a column that emits a different color. The scanning assembly includes a reflective surface rotated by the controller using a control signal having a nonlinear, pulsed waveform. The controller drives the first plurality of emitters and the second plurality of emitters in sequence, during respective portions of the nonlinear waveform, and in synchronization with rotation of the reflective surface such that light emitted by the first plurality of emitters and the second plurality of emitters is reflected onto a same pixel of an output image. The controller also adjusts emission durations of individual emitters to compensate for changes in the rotational speed of the reflective surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: William Thomas BLANK, Ilias PAPPAS
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Patent number: 11509861Abstract: The interactive and shared surface technique described herein employs hardware that can project on any surface, capture color video of that surface, and get depth information of and above the surface while preventing visual feedback (also known as video feedback, video echo, or visual echo). The technique provides N-way sharing of a surface using video compositing. It also provides for automatic calibration of hardware components, including calibration of any projector, RGB camera, depth camera and any microphones employed by the technique. The technique provides object manipulation with physical, visual, audio, and hover gestures and interaction between digital objects displayed on the surface and physical objects placed on or above the surface. It can capture and scan the surface in a manner that captures or scans exactly what the user sees, which includes both local and remote objects, drawings, annotations, hands, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sasa Junuzovic, William Thomas Blank, Bruce Arnold Cleary, III, Anoop Gupta, Andrew D. Wilson
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Publication number: 20220297985Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a conveyor means, in particular a hoist, a crane, a continuous conveyor or the like, and to a control unit, the conveyor means comprising a drive unit (21) and a control unit (20) for controlling the drive unit, the drive unit comprising at least two drives (43, 44), the drives being controlled by means of a control device (22) of the control unit, a rotary encoder (25, 38) of the control unit being connected shafts (29, 42) of the drive unit of the conveyor means each allocated to the drives and registering a rotation of the shafts, a rotation angle signal and/or a rotational speed signal being transmitted to the control device by means of an encoder device (26, 39) of the corresponding rotary encoder in order to control the drives, the control device determining the corresponding rotational speed of the shafts and comparing it to a referential rotational speed, the control device controlling the drives depending on the comparisonType: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2020Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Thomas Blank, Manfred Martis
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Patent number: 11430384Abstract: Techniques are described for operating a display system comprising a light source, a scanning assembly, and a controller. The light source includes a plurality of emitters arranged in a column. The scanning assembly includes a reflective surface. A control signal including linear or sinusoidal pulses is applied to cause the reflective surface to rotate. The controller drives the emitters in sequence, using a same image data value, and in synchronization with the rotating of the reflective surface such that light emitted by different emitters of the plurality of emitters is reflected onto a same pixel of an output image. Changes in rotational speed are compensated for through increasing an emission duration for a first row driven while the reflective surface is rotating at a slower rotational speed, relative to an emission duration for a second row driven while the reflective surface is rotating at a faster rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William Thomas Blank, Ilias Pappas
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Publication number: 20220225164Abstract: A method for addressing a terminal, preferably a meter, of a group of terminals, includes providing a primary wireless communication channel between a gateway and the respective terminal, assigned to the gateway, of a wireless communication system, preferably a wireless MBus communication system. In order to improve the primary communication, the gateway is assigned a sub-network which is formed of the gateway in question and at least one terminal, preferably a group of terminals. A terminal network address is generated for each terminal assigned to the gateway of the sub-network, and the terminal network address is used to transfer data in the primary communication channel between the gateway and terminals assigned to the gateway.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Stefan Schmitz, Thomas Blank